~ following the Qur'an and Sunnah

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Khutbah

“IT’S ONLY SUNNAH!”

It’s only Sunnah – This is a phrase we hear commonly amongst the people when it comes to matters regarding our religion, that such and such an act, “it’s only Sunnah!”

There is a misconception regarding the meaning of Sunnah. Therefore it is imperative we all understand what is meant by the word Sunnah, as the misunderstanding that exists amongst the Muslims is extremely dangerous when it comes to practising the deen of Islam as it should be practised. In the general sense, the word ‘Sunnah’ is a reference to the teachings and ways of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

In our lives, there are three ‘simulations’ of the Day of Judgement. One is daily; the Salaah. Every time we pray, we are standing before Allah. We focus on praying to Allah, we don’t look around, talk to anyone else… we are focused on Allah – or at least we should be. The second simulation is weekly; the Friday prayer, Jumuah. The whole community congregates to stand before Allah and pray to Him, and this event is something that we cannot miss, no matter how busy we are, the same way we will not miss the standing before our Lord on the Day of Judgement. The third simulation, is Hajj, where Muslims from around the whole world congregate and are dressed in the same clothes they will be buried in, another reminder of death, another reminder of the Day of Judgement, another simulation of our being gathered before Allah (SWT).

The scholars of the past were, when young, told to learn manners from their teachers before they learnt knowledge. Abdullah ibn Mubarak (RA) said “We are in more need of little manners than more knowledge”.

The religion of Islam has rules of etiquette and a moral code involving every aspect of life, and are applicable to society as a whole, regardless of age and gender. There is a difference between correct manners in Islam and the customs and traditions that people follow. There is a difference between etiquettes and manners:

“And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.” (Sahih International 20:124)

“But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.” (Muhsin Khan 20:124)

Our value of the Qur’an is diminished by the way we live. We spend 8 hours a day sleeping, 8-10 hours a day working, ~1.5 hours eating… How much time do we give the Qur’an? The Prophet (SAW) said guidance is only in this Book, and to stick to the Qur’an and Sunnah. He (SAW) will come on the Day of Judgement and say “My people took this Qur’an and abandoned it”.

Prayer, in Arabic, is known as salaah. Linguistically it means supplication or duaa, as demonstrated in the Qur’an… Legally, the word salaat is a term for a set of well known actions and statements that begins with takbir (Allahu Akbar) and ends with the taslim (assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah) with the intention for ibaadah (worship). A Muslim must learn to pray as the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did, because he (SAW) ordered us by saying “Pray as you have seen me pray” (Bukhari). We must pray to Allah in this way as this is the way He (SWT) wants us to pray – with full submission and by following the Sunnah of His Messenger (SAW).

Heaven and Hell have already been created. This is mentioned in many places in the Qur’an and the Sunnah:

“Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.” (57:21)

The Prophet (SAW) said “…Then I entered Paradise, and its lights were of pearls and its soil was musk” (Bukhari and Muslim). The reward and punishment in Heaven and Hell are real and physical:

“Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.” (4:56)

Be content with that which Allah (SWT) has given you and you will be the richest of people. Wealth, appearance, children, properties and talents – you must be content with your share in these things. Allah (SWT) says to Musa (AS) in the Qur’an:

“[ Allah ] said, “O Moses, I have chosen you over the people with My messages and My words [to you]. So take what I have given you and be among the grateful.” (7:144)

Most Islamic scholars and pious Muslims of the early generations of Islam were poor; they did not have beautiful houses or nice cars. Yet, despite these disadvantages, they led fruitful lives and benefited mankind, not by some miracle, but because they used all that they were given and spent their time in the correct way. Hence they were blessed in their lives, their time, and their talents.